Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-08-04
THE TRAIL OF DEATH


Fate OF a Party of Pioneers In the Far West
An Indian Victory.
We had been following the broad trail |
eft by four or five immigrant wagons
or many weary miles wh;n the guide
suddenly halted, says writer in the
Detroit Free Press. What of wagon |
trail loading across the great prairie
ocean toward sunsetY Tho wheels had
crushed flowers and blossoms with their
iron tires the iron shod feet had torn
up tho creeping vines and sweet grasses
the wagons had groaned aud com
planned as they assembled and descended
the sharp swells. That was ALL But no!
What of the people-the brave men
who were daring hunger, thirst, accident
and the Indians thirst for blood to reach
new homes under The shadow of The
Rockies2 What OF the stout-hearted
wives who we're clinging TO them through
/ peril-of the chile rem whose eyes opened
wondrously wide at the immensely OF tbs
4 prairiei We thought of them with chill
as we halted. Here the wagons had halt
ed as we'll A halt two hours before sun
set, without good water at hand meant
danger. What danger! The horses
had paved the ground in nervous way
as they stood there. The five or six men
had assembled together on knoll for
consultation. The grass which tssir feet
had pressed TO earth had not yet recover
ed its position Which way had their
gaze been turnedY To the south! What
had they seen : Indians the dark skinned
race OF haters- human beings who glory
in having the hearts of tigers Five
six seven men against how many
Later on We put tho number at fifty.
painted, yelling, shrieking warriors not
drop of pity in any heart not feel
ing Of mercy in any bosom. They had
caught sight Of the white-topped wagons,
and were coming up from the south
tigers after human blood.
What did the pioneers say among them
selves; On how many cheeks did the sun
burn Of the prairie give place to tbs
palenesB of anxiety and fear. Thes
gathered together away from the wagon
: they talked In low tones-they sought
TO hide their fears from those they loved
And what cf the women and children
Faces turned whittier that the SHOWS of th'
: new year lips quivered with emotion
I limbs trembled as the mind recalled
: stories of blood and cruelty. And in eaci
wagon some enc hut!b anu plhJbh W wv
to extend his hand of protection.
And Row the wagons move on. For
time it il in close order, with the BRAY
husbands between danger and their love-
ones. Then there is en- accident dealt
"a something TO cause alarm, and tn
2 alarm soon becomes a panic. Heaven bel
r them now! The horses are pushed to
! trot-now to gallop-now they are run
ming in mad excitement urged by tn
h WHIPS of the drivers and the shouts o
( the indians. We know how it will end
The night is coming down now, and v
!. 90 into camp. One night more viii max
: no difference with the skeletons lying OF
q the grass two or three miles away. IN
q wolves have been there each night for
IS week.
& The sun is an hour high as We reac
+ the spot Here is an acre OF ground q
a which a curse may ever rest. Here tn
3 wagons we're headed Of There the hus
d bands and sons made the fight which mel
4 make when the last hope is gone and dee
Is pair comes like dark cloud. One-t~
e : -fye-all the wagons are here bu
y broken and useless. The bloated an
le half .devcured bodies Of the horses ar
q here. The bodies Of men, women an
n children are-noi You cannot call
II skeleton body. You cannot say tina
le this bundle Of clean picked bones va
le man or woman. They are all here. ~
ID a soul escaped. Over the CHASTITY acre
strewn the garments of the dead-th
e. contents Of the wagons. In the cire'
II. about the wagons are blood spots on y. %
II grass. Those pioneers did no. die VIII
il. out revenge. But when the last one ha
10 fallen what shouts Of victory What yei
T. for vengeance! What feast for tom
hawk and scalping knife! The WOW